Croquettes d’Oeufs durs

The dining hall was pretty much filled by the time Maddy and Caleb arrived downstairs, with everyone eating at one table, well, almost everyone. Caleb could see Mira was drinking her coffee off to the side by herself. What caused him to freeze, though, was the woman at the center of the bunch, talking and eating with everyone else.

“Eliza!” Maddy exclaimed faster than Caleb could fully process, and he watched as the chef ran over to the other blonde and gave her a hug.

Eliza’s eyes widened with surprise as she slowly returned the hug, her voice when she spoke was tinged with disbelief, “I thought…I figured after what happened, you’d hate me.”

Separating just enough so she could look the other woman in the face, the chef shook her head, “No, I was upset…I thought you didn’t believe in me, but after talking it through with Mira, I understood why you did what you did.”

A complicated expression took over the professor’s features before she settled on a smile, “Is that right? Maddy, I think you’re amazing, and I’m sorry for doubting you in that moment. I promise not to do it again.”

The chef’s expression took a turn for the solemn, “Let’s…not make promises we can’t keep.” Seeing the other woman’s hurt expression, Maddy shook her head quickly, “N-no, it’s not that I don’t believe you, but this competition is trying to drive us into a corner. We need to try and be forgiving with each other when we make mistakes…we’re only human.”

“Some of us are plants and above such things.” Lily’s voice rose and sarcastically quipped from her seat as she made a mock pose of superiority.

Across the table, Stella’s tail flicked like a whip, slapping Lily lightly in the face, “I don’t want to hear that from Ms. ‘Everyone is awful! I’m going to turn into a tumbleweed!’” which elicited a chuckle from Maddy and confused looks from everyone else.

Maya leaned in, “Can you do that? Turn into other plants? Like a cactus?”

“She’s prickly enough as is; she doesn’t need the help.” Stella responded before leaning in and ruffling Lily’s hair, “You know I’m joking, we’re all friends here, right?”

“Right…” Lily murmured, a sour look on her face crossing into a smile, “That’s why we put up with you despite being a brat.”

Making a look of mock surprise, Stella then pressed a finger against her cheek and in a babydoll voice, responded, “Oooh, you could always try putting me in my place.” Seeing Maya begin to open her mouth, Stella panicked, “Don’t!”

Everyone looked between the two, with Amy being the one who spoke up, “I’m guessing this has to do with whatever transformation you upgraded yesterday.”

Maya quickly nodded, standing and cocking her hip to the side, “Yeah, I won and got the best result.”

“By the skin of her teeth,” Stella muttered bitterly as she stirred her oatmeal.

Lily tried to contain her apprehension, though it leaked through the voice of interest she attempted, “What transformation did you upgrade and what does it do now?”

With a bright smile on her face, Maya explained the upgrade to her Crass Class transformation that let her command those with less VP than her; everyone’s faces in reaction shifted somewhere between aghast and intrigue. Except for Stella, who watched everyone learning for the first time with mild amusement.

Sticking her nose in the air, Noemi smirked, “Just encouragement for everyone to get up to my level. If everyone dedicates themselves to Caleb, they don’t have to worry about being ordered around.”

Caleb ignored her and walked over, “That seems, potentially very powerful and dangerous, are you going to be ok?”

Lifting her fists with excitement, Maya bounced on her heels, “This was just the sort of trump card I was looking for before the first challenge. I’m not going to use it just to mess with people.”

Stella snorted, “You made me push in your chair yesterday!”

Maya waved her hand indignantly, “That doesn’t count! I was just testing it out. I’m not going to just use it willy nilly now!”

Smiling sheepishly, Maddy then looked over at Caleb, “I’m going to thank Mira for her help with yesterday and grab breakfast, so don’t feel the need to hold up on my account.”

“Actually,” Amy stood from her seat and crossed over to the two, “Could I borrow you before you sit down and relax? Sorry, just need to discuss something in private.”

Maddy looked between the two and bit her lip, “Don’t let me get in your way.” She hurried off to go speak with Mira in the corner, not noticing Eliza’s eyes focused on her as they spoke. Eliza also did not notice, Noemi was carefully watching her.

The master looked at Amy, “Is this about…” he trailed off, and Amy nodded, “Alright, let’s talk.”

The duo stepped off to the side, the rest of the breakfast table resuming its conversation. Caleb couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in how all the girls were coming together after a week of feeling like everyone was at each other’s throats. Maybe the competition would keep pitting them against each other, but maybe there was hope for something more at the end of all this.

Though any happy feelings he was having were pierced through like a bullet when Amy spoke next, “Lucian knows about the mask, and knows what I saw.”

Cursing quietly, Caleb’s hands formed fists, “I knew it, I knew going to the church was a bad idea.” He shook his head, trying not to let the bitterness he felt consume him, “Are you ok? Did he do anything to hurt you?”

The oni shook her head, “Nothing lasting, just humiliating. Mira followed me and got caught up in it too.” Caleb looked over to Mira, who was just talking casually with Maddy. Amy’s eyes followed his, and she sighed, “She still doesn’t know what really happened, but she was there when…” Her voice cracked, reliving the sight, “When I found the body. Bones, really.”

“Gods above,” Caleb muttered, “Why though? What’s the point of having that here?”

Amy couldn’t meet his gaze as she shrugged, eyes steady on the floor. She felt as if he saw the pain she was swallowing; it would break loose. “I don’t know. Shock value? Maybe it’s not for us. Maybe it’s for him.”

Caleb couldn’t hold back his scoff, “How do you figure that?”

“He said something when he was…” She shook her head. The more she elaborated on what actually happened, the less Caleb would focus on what she wanted him to. “He said he didn’t want this season, like he’s also here against his will.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Caleb leaned back against the wall behind him, “So, what? It hasn’t stopped him from trying to make all of our lives miserable. Maybe he didn’t want the gig, but he’s still deplorable in every way.”

The oni held her hands out pleadingly, “Caleb, please, I need you to hear me on this. If he doesn’t want to be here, maybe we can use that to our advantage. Find him a way out and maybe all of this…” she gestures around them, “Stops, and we can go back home.”

Caleb clicked his tongue, “So we look for a way to help him out and then without a host, the show stops?”

Amy stepped back, “Maybe.” Seeing Caleb’s face, she pushed forward, “I just mean, there are seasons that have lost hosts and then replaced them. But I feel like that might not happen this time.”

Summoning patience, Caleb took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Amy’s guidance had been invaluable so far, which is why he was working hard not to dismiss this out of hand. “How do you mean?”

“He’s…too tied in to the mechanics and themes of the season, like the season isn’t just about messing with us, it’s about him too. I don’t know why or how. But between the church, the mask, and all these little things that don’t add up, it’s the sense I get.” The oni summed up and locked eyes with Caleb.

Taking another breath, Caleb matched her gaze, “After everything that has happened, do you honestly think that demon would accept our help?”

“I-” Amy bit her lip, remembering Lucian ranting and raving as she stared up from the ground of the church, “We only know if we try.”

Caleb paused and then stared off into the distance, “You ever think that this could be part of the plan?”

“Caleb…” Amy frowned, watching as his chest rose and fell, feeling the irritation he was barely containing.

“Since seeing that vision, you’ve felt sorry for him, right?” The tone was without judgment, but it was holding something back, like a stone wall against lava glowing bright, “I get it, even just telling me what you saw, he clearly got a raw deal. But, since becoming a demon, what has he done about it? **** people? Maybe putting him here is the universe putting him in his place for everything he’s done. Almost everyone here has a sob story; do we not hold them accountable?”

Amy reached out, “I’m just saying, it’s a possibility…”

“No, I get it. I’m not dismissing it. Pursue it, and if you find any leads for it, I’ll help. But I’m not setting aside time praying for humanity in a demon’s heart.” He choked on something in his throat before swallowing it, “Everyone here is counting on me, if I don’t play my part, I’m dooming them- You’re the one that taught me that.”

Pursing her lips, “Caleb, you know that’s not what I-”

“It’s exactly what you meant,” the Master cut her off, “So sure, look for a way we might cut that demon loose, if we find it great. I will support you with everything I got. Me and my umbrella. In the meantime?” He squeezed his fists together painfully, “I’m going to oppose that sadist with everything I've got, and if he tries to harm anyone here, I’m making it my mission that he regrets it for the rest of that immortal life he has.”

Amy was going to protest, but saw the intensity of his gaze and stopped herself. What would she even say at this point? Sighing, she reached into her jacket and pulled out the mask and placed it in Caleb’s hand, “Take it.”

Caleb raised an eyebrow, “I mean…Sure,” He held it in his hands, feeling the surprising amount of weight in the small object, “What do you expect me to do with this?”

Amy chose her words carefully, knowing if she spelled it out, it would make the gift worthless. “Use it as a reminder of your feelings right now, that desire to protect us, ok? Not the hate, just the desire to protect.” She pushed it against his hands, “And if you ever feel like you need to protect one of us…give it to them then.” She stared him in the eyes, hopefully conveying her sincerity while asking him not to push her on this.

Caleb locked eyes with her and tucked the mask away, “If you’re this serious about it, then I know it’s important.” He smiled, “I trust you, Amy, maybe the most I’ve trusted anyone outside of my dad in years.”

The Oni let out a sigh of relief, withdrawing her hands, and then her expression looked serious, “Other than all that, I think we should let everyone know what I saw.”

“You sure? You were pretty against it before.” Caleb regarded the Oni carefully.

“Yeah, I’m sure. I was trying to keep it a secret before, but cat’s out of the bag now; better to have everyone on the same page.” Amy turned towards the breakfast hall.

Following her gaze, “Yeah, you’re right…well, no time like the present?”

Amy looked to the Master, “Are you up to it?”

“To be honest, last night was the best I’ve slept in a while. I owe Maddy for that. Still a wreck, but a little more functional of a wreck than normal,” He joked, and Amy leaned over, tapping his shoulder with hers.

“Yeah, but you’re our wreck.” She paused, “You’re stronger than you were last week.”

“Really? I don’t feel it.” Caleb rubbed the back of his head. “If anything, I feel stretched thin.”

Shaking her head, the oni pressed one of her horns against his shoulder, “Maybe, but before…there was no center to you. Like I could push you over with a thought,” She nestled her face against him, “There’s something there now.”

Caleb blushed, “I’ll take your word for it…should we…?” He gestured to the breakfast hall, “Um, shall we?”

Pulling her head from his shoulder like it was superheated, Amy collected herself and cleared her throat, “Um, yes, let’s go ahead then.”

Reentering the hall, the two made their way back around the table, not drawing any specific attention to themselves. Nevertheless, Stella called out their arrival, “Did you finish the sloppy morning makeout sesh?”

“Stella! Not everyone has getting off as their first priority.” Maddy snapped before her voice quieted down and looked to Caleb, “Right?”

Caleb just lightly shook his head, “No, but if we could have everyone’s attention?” Almost everyone turned to look, except Mira, who kept her head in her book while drinking her coffee. “We were talking about…well, Amy, why don’t I let you handle it. You’re the one who actually saw it?” This drew Mira’s attention, who stopped reading the book in her hands and looked over.

Amy cleared her throat, “Everyone knows I bought Lucian’s Mask from the Sabotage, but I kept quiet about what we learned. This was largely because we were worried about retaliation from the host.”

Lily raised an eyebrow, “Retaliation? About what? Spending BP on something in that awful shop?”

Amy shook her head, “About what the mask showed me. You see, when I put it on, I received a vision, showing Lucian’s life when he was human.”

The oni then went into detail, how Lucian had been a young boy in Cuneo, Italy. How his parents had died, leaving him an orphan. How he had been adopted by the local priest and become their apprentice. How a witchhunter had convinced the priest that the child was tainted with witch blood, and how the young boy had been burned to **** in church. How, then, a demon by the name of Andrea had taken him in and made him what he is.

The room was silent as everyone absorbed what they were being told. Maya felt in her bag where the scorched rosary sat currently. Maddy felt sick to her stomach and ran to the kitchen. Mira was silent but recalled the bones she had seen after following Amy and turned so no one could see her face. The first person to break the silence after a long exhale was the professor.

“Thank you for telling us. Do you have a plan for using this information? Also, you said you hid it out of fear of retaliation. Is there a reason this isn’t a fear anymore?” Her face was calm, but in her lap, her hands were shaking.

Amy shifted weight from one foot to the other, “I’m working on something we might be able to use the information for, but I’ll admit it’s risky. I’d rather hold out on sharing until it becomes actionable. But I promise I won’t do anything without consulting everyone. As for the other part.” She closed her eyes and grit her teeth, “It’s no longer a fear because he knows, he cornered me about it yesterday. Other than affirming he would be taking it out on us through the competition, he didn’t do anything immediately.”

“So…What’s the plan?” Stella’s tail was flicking back and forth irritably, “Are we supposed to feel sorry for the asshole?”

Caleb moved forward, “We just wanted everyone to be in the loop. I don’t like that we had to keep it a secret to begin with. We’re all on the same team here. Do what you want with the information, feel however you want to feel. But, other than that, it’s business as normal.”

Lily nodded in her seat, “In that case, maybe we can talk about what people want to do today? It’s been a while since everyone has been together.”

“Boardga-” Maya started before Lily held up her hand

“We agreed to do that on Monday! Let’s think of something else for today. Eliza, you’re welcome to join.” The plant woman turned to the professor.

The blonde shook her head in response, “It’s my date today, and I’m going to need the bulk of it. Speaking of, Caleb, there is something I need to discuss with you if you don’t mind. Of course, it can wait until you’ve eaten.”

Caleb gave a sigh of relief, “Thanks, let’s just take a moment to relax, I think the morning ended up a lot heavier than any of us expected.”

Eliza smiled, reaching into her bag absentmindedly and feeling the smooth porcelain inside, “Yeah…it really did.”